While Hollywood has seemed to dominate the cinematic universe, different types of cinema are garnering more attention in North America,from Bollywood cinemato East Asian cinema. East Asian cinema are movies produced in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, and South Korea. There are a number of genres produced within East Asian cinema, from Chinese wuxia films to Japanese jidaigeki. Thanks to East Asian cinema, we have been granted a great number of actors including Jackie Chanand Toshirō Mifune, both of whom starred in a plethora of action films that led their names to become legendary in film history.
Within East Asian cinema, plenty of films have been produced and even inspired many Western films. For example;The Magnificent Sevenwas a Westernized remake of theAkira Kurosawa classicSeven Samurai. Thanks to the great number of films produced within East Asian cinema, the movement has also managed to influence a great number of directors, including Quentin Tarantino who drew a great deal ofinspiration from the classic samurairevenge flickLady Snowbloodfor hisKill Billfilm series. It all begins in East Asian cinema, and these are the best East Asian movies of the 2010s, ranked.
Related:Best South Asian Movies of the 2010s, Ranked
7Guilty of Romance
Guilty of Romanceis a Japanese film about detective Kazuko, who is investigating the horrific murder of a woman from the red-light district. At the same time, housewife Izumi is hiding her double life as a sex worker from her husband. These two storylines are interwoven, exploring the love hotel district and the aspect of the seedy underground in Japan that often goes ignored. The third installation in Sion Sono’sHate Filmtrilogy,Guilty of Romanceis adapted from a true case in Tokyo involving a businesswoman who was suspected of being killed while looking for quick money in the rings of sex work. This gory film is a statement from Sono on women’s roles in Japan, a hidden gem worth the watch.
Shadowis a Chinese wuxia film following army Commander Ziyu who secretly trains a “shadow” to retake a city against the wishes of the king. Set during China’s Three Kingdoms era, the king is an insufferable tyrant who many wish to overthrow, including his general who makes a plan to take him down with the help of his wife and a look-alike. The film’s unique style was created by rendering the costumes, props, and scenes in black and white to recreate the feel of a traditional Chinese ink painting.Shadowhas received universal acclaim and was nominated for 18 awards, winning Zhang Yimou the Golden Horse Award for Best Director.
Ip Mantells the true story of Ip Man, a grandmaster of the martial art Wing Chun, who opens a school to teach his art. The film is set during the Sino-Japanese War and the effect that this had on the life of Ip Man and his family. Starring martial artist Donnie Yen as the title character,Ip Manspawned a whole franchise revolving around the Ip Man, teacher of world-renowned martial artist Bruce Lee.Ip Manwas subject to critical and commercial success and even before its release, a sequel had already been lined up. The film was nominated for a number of awards and, most notably, won the Hong Kong Film Awards for Best Film and Best Action Choreography.
4The Handmaiden
The Handmaidenwas inspired by the novelFingersmithwith the setting changed from Victorian Era Britain to Korea under Japanese colonial rule. The film revolves around Japanese Lady Izumi living on a secluded estate, who takes on the Korean Nam as her handmaiden. Little does Izumi know that Nam is plotting with a conman to steal her large inheritance. The film has been subject to universal acclaim thanks to the directorial talents of Park Chan-wook.The Handmaidenwas nominated for a plethora of awards and even won the British Academy Film Award for Best Film Not in the English Language.
Related:Best Movies with Asian LGBTQ+ Characters
3Shoplifters
Set in the outskirts of Tokyo,Shopliftersfollows a group of outsiders united by their petty thievery to make ends meet and fight poverty. Everything changes for them when they take in a homeless girl off the street, uncovering a deep dark secret.Shoplifterspremiered at Cannes Film Festival, where it took home the Palme d’Or. Upon the official release of the film,Shoplifterswas a critical and commercial success, even receiving the nomination for Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards and the Golden Globes.Shoplifterswas praised for its realistic look at poverty in Japan and its bittersweet feel, contrasting the emotional impoverished family with the frigid emotionless behavior of the upper-class.
Former neighbors Jong-su and Hae-mi meet once again, and she asks him to watch her cat while she is out of town. Upon Hae-mi’s return, she introduces Jong-soo to Ben (Steven Yeun), a man she met on her trip away. Jong-su becomes suspicious of Ben and believes that he is dangerous.Burningwas subject to universal acclaim almost immediately after its release for its ambiguous narrative, making it the perfect psychological thriller.Burningwon a total of 83 accolades, including the Vulcan Award and the FIPRESCI Prize at the Cannes Film Festival.
Considered one of the best films South Korea has ever produced,Parasitetells the story of a poor family who scheme to get employed by a wealthy family to infiltrate their household by posing as qualified individuals. The film covers prominent issues in Korea, including social inequality and class conflict, both of which are covered in the film with a sense of humor without losing true meaning.Parasitedestroyed the competition, taking home four Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best International Feature Film, being thefirst non-English-language filmto win Best Picture. Many critics have consideredParasiteto be one of the greatest films of the 21st Century, making it a must-watch for any film lover.
